These socketed SH-2 CPU boards are found in Sophia Programming Boxes and Graphics Boxes. From the factory just one was shipped in each unit with the second socket free to have a Hitachi ICE or other SH-2 board added. Unfortunately on the second hand markets today, many Sophia's will either have no SH-2s or just one. So I was wondering the feasibility of duplicating such a PCB using an SH-2 chip from a Saturn (or other source).
I was also wondering what happened to the j-core j2 project (SH-2 open source CPU) and whether that would be suitable -
Unless it is missing some crucial compatibility details, I don't see why not... Even a reasonable FPGA implementation of the SH-2 would do.
First quote from PIC-CONTROL singapore: "The PCB layout is probably around S$2500 to $3000 10pcs PCB estimate about S$120-550 100pcs S$300-1200 depending on the PCB board size and the number of layers. I can't tell much without evaluating the board." Depending on volume that doesn't seem too bad but I'll get a few more quotes. Personally I would only like 4x units but assume there's more than one other person out there that would like one or two hence I asked for 10x and 100x volume. I assume I get to keep the PCB layout docs though so if a future person needed they could just use that.
Seems expensive. I can ask for a quote with reverse engineering companies I have used before. But to be honest, I could probably do it myself in a few days, it looks pretty basic.
If I were to do it, I would prefer to have one sent to me and I'd do the work for free, but sell the boards if it ended up working. Your first one would be free for supplying the sample board. I have a few donor saturn mobos already.
My other concern is the connector, it looks kind of like this 80 pin one (attached) but would need to try one out.
